After devastating tropical storm Isaac swept through Haiti, a mobile phone company quickly moved to assist 5,000 women victims and is working with the government to ease the burden by providing expedited services and aid in transferring cash payments to the needy.
Reportedly, Digicel reacted immediately after the storm struck and organized a program that is aiding with the transfer of emergency relief payments to Haitian mothers affected by the storm using its mobile money service.
The mothers selected are registered for the Ti Manman Cheri program and on Digicel’s Tcho Tcho mobile money service are able to receive a payment from the government of 500 gourdes.
So far at least 500 women with a free mobile phone to use the service from registration locations in Cite Soleil and others planned in Croix des Bouquets will benefit. Once registered, the beneficiaries will be able to visit any one of several hundred mobile agents nationwide to make cash withdrawals.
President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Director of the Fonds d’Assistance Economique et Sociale (the Economic and Social Assistance Fund) Klaus Eberwein, and CEO Digicel Haiti Damian Blackburn attended the launch registration event in Cite Soleil on Aug 26.
“Digicel is always looking for ways to support the Haitian people and help them move forward in a positive way. We are pleased to support the Haitian Government in this project to provide relief to Haitian mothers following the devastation caused to the country by Tropical Storm Isaac,” Blackburn said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our mobile team which has been working night and day with the government to ensure that mothers can receive this much needed support,” Blackburn added.
